Saturday, January 31, 2009

St. John Bosco's Boys


Thank you St. John Bosco!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

SSPX Bishops' Excommunications Lifted

Source: Vatican News Service



CONGREGATIO PRO EPISCOPIS



Con lettera del 15 dicembre 2008 indirizzata a Sua Em.za il Sig. Cardinale Dario Castrillón Hoyos, Presidente della Pontificia Commissione Ecclesia Dei, Mons. Bernard Fellay, anche a nome degli altri tre Vescovi consacrati il giorno 30 giugno 1988, sollecitava nuovamente la rimozione della scomunica latae sententiae formalmente dichiarata con Decreto del Prefetto di questa Congregazione per i Vescovi in data 1° luglio 1988. Nella menzionata lettera, Mons. Fellay afferma, tra l'altro: "Siamo sempre fermamente determinati nella volontà di rimanere cattolici e di mettere tutte le nostre forze al servizio della Chiesa di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo, che è la Chiesa cattolica romana. Noi accettiamo i suoi insegnamenti con animo filiale. Noi crediamo fermamente al Primato di Pietro e alle sue prerogative, e per questo ci fa tanto soffrire l'attuale situazione".

Sua Santità Benedetto XVI - paternamente sensibile al disagio spirituale manifestato dagli interessati a causa della sanzione di scomunica e fiducioso nell'impegno da loro espresso nella citata lettera di non risparmiare alcuno sforzo per approfondire nei necessari colloqui con le Autorità della Santa Sede le questioni ancora aperte, così da poter giungere presto a una piena e soddisfacente soluzione del problema posto in origine - ha deciso di riconsiderare la situazione canonica dei Vescovi Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson e Alfonso de Galarreta sorta con la loro consacrazione episcopale.

Con questo atto si desidera consolidare le reciproche relazioni di fiducia e intensificare e dare stabilità ai rapporti della Fraternità San Pio X con questa Sede Apostolica. Questo dono di pace, al termine delle celebrazioni natalizie, vuol essere anche un segno per promuovere l'unità nella carità della Chiesa universale e arrivare a togliere lo scandalo della divisione.

Si auspica che questo passo sia seguito dalla sollecita realizzazione della piena comunione con la Chiesa di tutta la Fraternità San Pio X, testimoniando così vera fedeltà e vero riconoscimento del Magistero e dell'autorità del Papa con la prova dell'unità visibile.

In base alle facoltà espressamente concessemi dal Santo Padre Benedetto XVI, in virtù del presente Decreto, rimetto ai Vescovi Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson e Alfonso de Galarreta la censura di scomunica latae sententiae dichiarata da questa Congregazione il 1° luglio 1988, mentre dichiaro privo di effetti giuridici, a partire dall'odierna data, il Decreto a quel tempo emanato.

Roma, dalla Congregazione per i Vescovi, 21 gennaio 2009.

Card. Giovanni Battista Re

Prefetto della Congregazione per i Vescovi




Decree of the Congregation for Bishops
(Translation from Rorate-Caeli)



By way of a letter of December 15, 2008 addressed to His Eminence Cardinal Dario Castrillón Hoyos, President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Mons. Bernard Fellay, also in the name of the other three Bishops consecrated on June 30, 1988, requested anew the removal of the latae sententiae excommunication formally declared with the Decree of the Prefect of this Congregation on July 1, 1988. In the aforementioned letter, Mons. Fellay affirms, among other things: "We are always firmly determined in our will to remain Catholic and to place all our efforts at the service of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the Roman Catholic Church. We accept its teachings with filial animus. We believe firmly in the Primacy of Peter and in its prerogatives, and for this the current situation makes us suffer so much."

His Holiness Benedict XVI - paternally sensitive to the spiritual unease manifested by the interested party due to the sanction of excommunication and faithful in the effort expressed by them in the aforementioned letter of not sparing any effort to deepen the necessary discussions with the Authority of the Holy See in the still open matters, so as to achieve shortly a full and satisfactory solution of the problem posed in the origin - decided to reconsider the canonical situation of Bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson, and Alfonso de Galarreta, arisen with their episcopal consecration.

With this act, it is desires to consolidate the reciprocal relations of confidence and to intensify and grant stability to the relationship of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X with this Apostolic See. This gift of peace, at the end of the Christmas celebrations, wishes also to be a sign to promote unity in the charity of the universal Church and to try to end the scandal of division.

It is hoped that this step be followed by the prompt accomplishment of full communion with the Church of the entire Fraternity of Saint Pius X, thus testifying true fidelity and true recognition of the Magisterium and of the authority of the Pope with the proof of visible unity.

Based in the faculty expressly granted to me by the Holy Father Benedict XVI, in virtue of the present Decree, I remit to Bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson, and Alfonso de Galarreta the censure of latae sententiae excommunication declared by this Congregation on July 1, 1988, while I declare deprived of any juridical effect, from the present date, the Decree emanated at that date.


Rome, from the Congregation for Bishops, January 21, 2009.



Card. Giovanni Battista Re
Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops

Urgent Request: Acts of Reparation



While the catholic world eagerly await the confirmation and official pronouncement of the annulment of the excommunication of Msgr. Lefebvre and the SSPX bishops, a terrible thing had happened to a parish community in the Diocese of Cubao: a monstrance with the consecrated host was stolen from the adoration chapel of the Christ the King Church in Veterans Village, Quezon City. We are asking everyone to offer acts of reparation.


Friday, January 23, 2009

Happy Birthday Mr. Dennis Maturan



A Happy Birthday to Mr. Dennis Raymond Maturan, the founder and current chairman of the Ecclesia Dei Society of St. Joseph. He and the Ecclesia Dei Society of St. Joseph together with Msgr. Andrade, Msgr. Ramirez and Father Michell Joe Zerrudo were instrumental in providing the catholic flock attached to the older form of the Mass regular Sunday Traditional Latin Masses during the days of the indult.

Now in the Age of Summorum Pontificum, the Ecclesia Dei Society of St. Joseph with Mr. Dennis Raymond Maturan and Father Michell Joe Zerrudo continues its mission to promote and preserve valid Roman Catholic culture, tradition, liturgy and music; especially the celebration of the Holy Mass according to the Missal of Blessed John XXIII.

Ad Multos Annos Kuya!



Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Bishop Camilo Gregorio's Pontifical Mass (Extraordinary Form)

On the feast of the Sto. Niño, His excellency Most Rev. Bishop Camilo Gregorio, D.D. of the Prelature of Batanes celebrated a Pontifical Mass according to the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite assisted by Rev. Fr. Erwin Dela Cruz at the St. Jerome Emiliani and Sta. Susana Parish in Ayala Alabang. The bishop was served by the servers of the extraordinary form of St. Jerome Emiliani, together with representatives from the Sikatuna TLM group, while the Van De Steen Chorale provided the rich sacred music comprising of Gregorian Chants and sacred Polyphony.

This is the first TLM pontifical mass celebrated at St. Jerome Emiliani and the second TLM celebrated by his excellency in the diocese of Parañaque.

Last September 13, 2008, the bishop administered the sacrament of confirmation according to the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite in the Diocese of Cubao.


Assistant Priest Rev. Fr. Erwin Dela Cruz

The celebrant, Most Rev. Bishop Camilo Gregorio, D.D.

The Crozier bearer, Buglia bearer and Mitre Bearer

Prayers at the foot of the altar


The Acolytes holding the candles for the Gospel

the Gospel

The bishop giving his sermon with the torchbearers


Assistant Server #2 preceding the Cross bearer

The Thurifer and Boat bearer

The altar servers with his Excellency


His Excellency and the servers with Mrs. Marilou Barnes-Cortez

His Excellency with Mr. George Balagtas and the Van De Steen Chorale


Monday, January 05, 2009

Van De Steen Chorale

By: Marilou Barnes-Cortez



The Van De Steen Chorale, who were featured during the televised Christmas midnight TLM, are alumni members of the Manila Cathedral Boy's choir who sang and chanted for the TLM at the cathedral forty years ago. The Manila Cathedral Boy's Choir was founded by the late Rufino Cardinal Santos and trained under Father John Van De Steen, CICM, a Belgian missionary. Now in their late 50's, their cherished dream to sing as a group Sacred Music and the Gregorian Chants was fulfilled when they were invited to sing as a choir for the inaugural Traditional Latin Mass at St. Jerome Emiliani and Sta. Susanna Parish last June 29, 2008.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

St. Jerome Emiliani Televised Christmas Midnight Mass

Story By: Marilou Barnes-Cortez and Gerald Emmanuel S. Ceñir

A historic Christmas for the Catholic Church in the Philippines was made possible through the efforts of Word Communicators Apostolate and Mr. George Balagtas when the Christmas Midnight Traditional Latin Mass (extraordinary form of the Roman Rite) at St. Jerome Emiliani and Sta. Susana Parish Church was aired live via the National Broadcasting Network (NBN4).

The Christmas Midnight Mass was envisioned to be a celebration with the participation of priests and servers from parishes that regularly celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass. The idea was inspired by an advice from his Excellency Bishop Camilo Gregorio, of the prelature of Batanes, that in the work of propagating of the Traditional Latin Mass in the country, everyone should unite and work together.

Preceding the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, people were treated to a mini concert by the Van De Steen Chorale headed by Mr. George Balagtas. To soften the impact on viewers who have not been exposed to the Traditional Latin Mass, in between the Christmas carols by the Van De Steen Chorale, introductory video clips were presented both to the televiewers and those who are present in the church. The catechesis on the TLM featured parish priests of key parishes who are regularly celebrating the TLM within the metropolis. The are:

  1. Monsignor Moises Andrade, STL – Summorum Pontificum and the Liturgy of Missale Romanum of 1962
  2. Rev. Father Michell Joe Zerrudo – The sense of the sacred, sense of mystery and Sacred Silence of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite
  3. Rev. Father Grato Germanetto CRS – the value and richness of the old liturgy and making it interesting and attractive to today’s generation.

Word Communicators Apostolate, Inc (WORDCOM), whose apostolate is evangelization through various media, looks forward to helping in the promotion of the Traditional Latin Mass as it evolved through the use of local resources enriched by the Hispanic culture and tradition which has influenced the celebration of the TLM in the Philippines since the discovery and colonization of the islands by Spain centuries ago.





The altar decorated with candelabras and altar cards containing texts that the priest would pray during the Mass. At the center is the chalice and paten containing the bread covered with the chalice veil. On the epistle side is the Missal.

The Entrance Procession


Prayers at the foot of the altar. Father Germanetto, CRS is flanked by two assistant servers acting as Masters Of Ceremonies.



After the Kyrie, one of the assistant servers leads the procession of a couple dressed as the Blessed Virgin Mary who is carrying the statue of the baby Jesus and with her St. Joseph.

The statue of the baby Jesus placed on the crib

The Gloria

The Proclamation of the Gospel: Father Germanetto, CRS being assisted by an assistant server with the thurifer and acolytes.


The faithful listening attentively while the Good News is being proclaimed.


Father Germanetto, CRS giving his homily.

The Van De Steen Chorale singing the offertory hymns.


The assistant server with the thurifer leading the procession of the torchbearers during the Sanctus

The elevation of the Sacred Body of our Lord Jesus Christ

The elevation of the chalice containing the Sacred Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ

"Ecce Agnus Dei, Ecce qui tolit peccata mundi"



The communicants receiving our Lord by the tongue while kneeling as an act of love and adoration for our Lord. Father Germanetto and Monsignor Salomon of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines distributed the sacred hosts to the communicants.


After the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the statue of the baby Jesus was revered by the faithful.

Msgr. Guido Marini Interview

The Italian journal Il Tempo made an interview with papal master of ceremonies Msgr. Guido Marini regarding the liturgical vision of his holiness Pope Benedict XVI. The Pope is making available to the present generation, among other things, the long lost beauty of the liturgy and the sense of the sacred, elements that seemed to have almost disappeared due to the banality that have crept in church architecture, music, vestments and on the spot liturgies that is more similar to a noontime tv show than a sacred action of making present the sacrifice of our Lord at Calvary.

The Supreme Pontiff, the Vicar of Christ, continues to remind us that what has edified Catholics before can continue to edify us now and can edify us more than what a banal "noontime TV show" liturgies can.





[...]

Il Tempo: Are we witnessing simply a process of liturgical restyling or something deeper?

Marini: It is something deeper in the line of continuity, not of a break with the past. There is a development with respect for tradition.

Il Tempo: Since he has arrived, changes or corrections have been made. Some subtle, others more blatant.

Marini: The changes are diverse. One was the placement of the crucifix on the altar at the centre to indicate that the celebrant and the assembly of the faithful do not look at each other, but together they look to the Lord who is the focus of their prayers. The other aspect is the communion given kneeling by the Holy Father and distributed on the tongue. This to demonstrate the greatness of the mystery, the living presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. This attitude and posture is important because it helps the worship and devotion of the faithful.

[...]

Il Tempo: When we will see Pope Benedict to celebrate the Mass in Latin according to Extraordinary Form of the Roman rite, that of St. Pius V? The Motu proprio. I, personally, interpret it as an act of generosity, openness, not closure.

Marini: I do not know. Many of the faithful have themselves taken advantage of this possibility [of the motu proprio]. The Pope will decide if he believes it to be opportune.

Il Tempo: In the post-synodal "Apostolic Exhortation" on the liturgy, Joseph Ratzinger has touched on many aspects. He even suggested that churches should face East, towards the Holy City of Jerusalem. A year ago, he celebrated Mass in the Sistine Chapel with his back facing the people. Why?

Marini: I proposed it. The Sistine Chapel is a treasure trove. It seemed to arbitrarily alter its beauty by building an artificial stage. In the ordinary rite, Mass celebrated "with one's back facing to the people" is an envisaged possibility [una modalità prevista]. But I would stress: [The celebrant] does not turn his back to the faithful, but rather the celebrant and the faithful are facing that thing which matters: the crucifix.

Il Tempo: "The Pope puts on Christ not Prada" was read in L'Osservatore Romano. The look of Benedict XVI is striking and intriguing. Vestments, mitre, pectoral crosses, the cathedra upon which he sits, and the mozzetta and stole. This is an elegant Pope. Is it a media invention?

Marini: Even to say "elegant" in the language of today, seems to suggest a Pope who simply loves outer aspects. A watchful eye sees that there is research which marries tradition and modernity. It is not the logic of a simple return to the past but it is a balance between past and present. It is the exploration, if you like, of beauty and harmony, which is the revelation of the mystery of God.


Translation: New Liturgical Movement